Flowering Meadow

Sowing Rate	25-30 g/m2 (100-120 kg/acre)
Sowing Time	March-September
Sowing Depth	10 mm
Sowing Instructions	Create a fine friable seedbed down to 150mm in depth. Carry out two equal sowings at right angles to each other and diagonally to the main axis. Broadcast manually or use seed drill, rake level and roll. Ensure good seed-to-soil contact.
Cutting Height	Between 40 -75 mm
Minimum cuts per year	4

Usage guide: Horse Mixture Sowing rate: 14 kg/acre (35 kg/ha) Sowing Time: April-September (first week) Sowing depth: 10-15 mm Sowing instructions: Cultivate to achieve a fine, firm seedbed. Ploughing will help level rough fields. Sow in good conditions (warm with rain forecast), no deeper than 10-15 mm. Roll well after sowing to ensure good soil/ seed contact. Apply N, P & K as per soil test results and nitrates rules. After sowing: Monitor for pest attack and take immediate action where necessary. Post-emergence weed spray is advised approx. 5-6 weeks after establishment, prior to first grazing provided herbs are not sown in the mixture. If the mixture containing herbs is sown, weed control should take place before reseeding. If possible, use sheep or cattle to graze sward initially as this will help tiller out the sward and create a denser sward. Suitable for a hay crop if desired.

Sowing rate: 14 kg/acre (35 kg/ha) Sowing time: April-September (first week) Sowing depth: 10-15 mm Sowing instructions: Cultivate to achieve a fine, firm seedbed. Ploughing will help level rough fields. Sow in good conditions (warm with rain forecast), no deeper than 10-15mm. Roll well after sowing to ensure good soil/seed contact. Apply N, P & K as per soil test results and nitrates rules. After sowing: Monitor for pest attack and take immediate action where necessary. Post-emergence weed spray is essential approx. 5-6 weeks after establishment, prior to first grazing. Where clover is included in the sown mixture, use a clover safe spray. Grazing: Graze the new reseeds frequently and at low covers (<1200 kg DM/ha) to assist in tillering and help create a dense sward. Uses: Dairy – Y; cattle – Y; sheep – Y; silage – Y

Sowing rate	4 kg pack (0.4 acre)
Sowing time	Late March to late July (avoid very dry sowing periods
Sowing depth	No more than 10 mm
Sowing instructions	Sow on low fertile soil Remove existing plants and create a fine seedbed 100-150 mm deep Scatter seed at a rate of 1-2 g/m2 Rake over so seed is lightly covered by soil Roll for good seed-to-soil contact

Maintenance

• Do not apply any herbicides or fertilise
• Control any noxious weeds by pulling out or using spot treatment
• Cut down to 40-70 mm and remove clippings in late August/early September
• Oversow at half rate each spring to maintain flowering intensity

Measures to enhance pollinators on your farm

• Avoid ‘over-neatness’ to benefit bees and other wildlife
• Allow native hedgerows such as whitethorn to flower each year
• Avoid cutting hedgerows annually to allow flowering and fruiting
• Leave at least one mature whitethorn/blackthorn tree within each hedgerow
• Consider maintaining nesting habitats for bumblebees and solitary bees, keeping them free from pesticides
• Wild bees need an uninterrupted source of wildflowers for food. Additional flowers are particularly important in summer after hedgerows have finished flowering

Farm Pollinator Mix ingredients

• Red clover
• White clover
• Vetch
• Phacelia
• Chicory
• Birdsfoot trefoil